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Church Aid to Hurricane Devastated Haiti

Diocesan Press Service. February 7, 1964 [XVIII-2]

Only hours after hurricane "Flora" devastated the island Republic of Haiti last October the forces of the Church moved in with aid for the wounded and hungry. Episcopal clergy and nuns resident in the country, and Church World Service of the National Council of Churches (helped by the Episcopal Church through the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief) all played a part in the mission of rescue.

Sister Joan Margaret, Society of St. Margaret, Executive Director of the Episcopal St. Vincent's School for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince, reported on the situation in Haiti's southern peninsula. She said that CARE functioned in one area, Church World Service in another, The Salvation Army in a third and the Catholic Relief Service in a fourth. All cooperated and acted under the direction of a Governmental Executive Committee.

Flying in a helicopter with the Major in charge of the Salvation Army work to visit the interior, they found cities and towns where the roofs had been blown off all the houses and churches. In one place of 165 homes, only 7 were habitable. She said that destruction in the mountains was even more appalling. Tiny villages were completely wiped out and death and desolation was on every side. At one point they hovered low and threw out the box lunches, that had been prepared for their trip, to people who were trapped by flood waters.

On another occasion, a group from St. Vincent's went inland and spent the day giving typhoid shots, making dressings, manufacturing splints out of next to nothing and making home visits to persons too ill to be brought to them. Neighbors had made litters out of anything they could find to bring victims to the clinic. One woman had lost all her children and her husband, and infection had already set in where she had received a severe head wound. As no medical team had reached the area before, she, with countless others, was in a critical condition. When the first helicopter came to take the staff out, they loaded on six patients instead. When a second arrived Sister Joan Margaret and her companions sent out more of the wounded. Hating to take food needed by hungry people they had eaten only raisins, malted milk tablets and Life Savers during the day. Finally, trapped for the night, and after a few sardines and some crackers, they slept on the floor and on cots, given up by a Salvation Army Captain.

By three in the morning, patients were arriving for the next day's clinic. After a breakfast of soup and crackers, the staff began the shots and dressings once more.

Now St. Vincent's boarding home is filled with 25 to 60 extra children to feed. Many have been seriously wounded and require constant care. Uninjured adults, in spite of almost daily rains, are trying to dry out what little has been left to them and build tiny lean-to huts to protect themselves.

Last year Episcopalians contributed $9, 83.78 to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for hurricane relief work in Haiti. Volunteer medical, construction and agricultural teams are still working in the area On Sunday, March 8 of this year an appeal will again be made for the Presiding Bishop's Fund as part of "One Great Hour of Sharing.